Clay shirky’s end of audience theory

• What is Clay Shirky's theory about the audience?


  Shirky believes there is no longer a passive audience.
• How does Shirky define a passive audience?


  A passive audience mindlessly consumes content without interaction.
• What does Shirky believe about the current audience's behavior?


  He believes audiences are now more active and interactive.
• What role has technology played in changing audience behavior according to Shirky?


  Technology has made audiences more active and interactive.
• What trend is observed in newspaper and magazine circulation?

  Newspaper and magazine circulation is declining.
• Why do audiences prefer digital versions of newspapers and magazines?


  Audiences prefer digital versions for interactivity and engagement.
• What happens if media producers do not allow audience interaction?


  Audiences will go elsewhere, leading to financial losses for producers.
• How has the relationship between producers and audiences changed?

  Audiences now want to communicate and interact with producers.
• What platforms allow audiences to interact with media producers?


  Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat allow interaction.
• How has technology affected the power dynamics between audiences and producers?


  Technology has led to more equality of power between audiences and producers.
• What are the key characteristics of active audiences according to Shirky?


  • Engage with content
  • Interact with producers
  • Share and comment on media
  • Expect a level of interaction
• What are the implications of declining newspaper and magazine circulation?


  • Shift towards digital media
  • Increased demand for interactivity
  • Need for producers to adapt to audience preferences
• What does Shirky suggest about the hierarchy between producers and audiences?

  • Producers used to hold more power
  • Audiences now have more power
  • Interaction has reduced the traditional hierarchy
• Who suggests we are experiencing the largest increase in expressive capability in history?

  Clay Shirky
• How does Shirky compare the digital revolution's impact?

  To Gutenberg's printing press
• What does Shirky argue about the internet's impact on media production?

  It democratizes media production
• What are the key communications technologies mentioned by Shirky?

  • Telephone
  • Fax machines
  • Pagers
  • Broadcast media (cinema, radio, television)
• What does Shirky claim about audience behavior in the twentieth century?

  Audiences became passive consumers
• What does Shirky say about the nature of telephone conversations?

  They are typically private in nature
• How does broadcast media differ from telephone communication according to Shirky?

  Broadcast media is designed for public consumption
• What does Shirky suggest about the power dynamics of twentieth-century media?

  Power lay with a few organizations
• What technological advances in the 1990s does Shirky highlight?

  Advances in computer-processing power
• What does the convergence of personal and broadcast media allow for?

  Both private and public communication
• How can email be used according to Shirky's argument?

  For one-to-one or one-to-many communication
• What does Shirky say about YouTube users and content creation?

  They can create and distribute content easily
• How do Instagram and Twitter users compare to traditional media broadcasters?

  They can reach large audiences with smartphones
• What are the characteristics of contemporary digital media according to Shirky?

  • Spectrum of personal and broadcast content
  • Small-scale, close-knit group interactions
  • Two-way communication
• What does Shirky mean by mass amateurisation?

  Everyday users can achieve celebrity status
• What advantages do amateur products have in digital media?

  Quick global distribution without high costs
• How does digital media enable audience feedback?

  Through likes, shares, and comments
• What does Shirky suggest about the competition between peer-to-peer networks and traditional media?

  Peer-to-peer networks can usurp traditional media
• What does Shirky say about the risks of digital content creation?

  Failure is common and part of experimentation
• What is the 'Publish first, filter later' model?

  Content is published without prior editorial control
• What problems arise from the lack of editorial control in digital media?

  Increased risk of fake news and extreme content
• What does Shirky conclude about traditional mass media's future?

  They are unlikely to survive in the digital age
• What are the fatal flaws of traditional mass media according to Shirky?

  • High overhead costs
  • Slow decision-making processes
  • Risk aversion due to editorial processes
• How have traditional media makers responded to digital pressures?

  By integrating one-to-one communication practices
• What do newspapers do to engage audiences online?

  Invite readers to comment on stories
• How do television broadcasters use YouTube?

  As a marketing tool and for fan engagement
• What role do Twitter hashtags play in television?

  Facilitate audience feedback and engagement